2016 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SELBERG INSTITUTE

MOTHS & BUTTERFLIES OF THE SAMPSON CREEK PRESERVE:

Inventory Results from 2016

Prepared and Submitted by:

DANA ROSS (Entomologist/Lepidoptera Specialist)

1005 NW 30th Street, Corvallis, OR 97330

(541) 758-3006

SUMMARY

The Selberg Institute’s Sampson Creek Preserve was sampled for butterflies and moths during June, July and

September, 2016. A grand total of 252 species were documented and included 194 macro-moths, 9 micro-

moths and 49 butterflies. They are presented here as an appendix in this report. Butterflies and day-flying

moths were pursued during the midday hours with an insect net. Nocturnal moths were sampled over single

night periods at 10 locations during each monthly visit using battery-powered backlight traps.

While many of the butterflies and moths found were common and widespread species, some can be

considered quite rare. Of particular note, are several species of moths that represent first-time records for

Jackson County and others that may be new species for the state of Oregon.

Additional sampling during the next few years – to include the months of April, May, August and October, as

well as additional mid-season effort – will help to establish a robust butterfly-moth species baseline for the

site. Ultimately, the total number of butterflies and moths documented at Sampson Creek Preserve is

expected to be in the range of 450-500 species.

INTRODUCTION

The Order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) is an abundant and diverse insect group that performs essential

ecological functions within terrestrial environments. As a group, these insects are major herbivores

(caterpillars) and pollinators (adults), and are a critical food source for many species of birds, mammals

(including bats) and predacious and parasitoid insects. With hundreds of species of butterflies and moths

combined occurring at sites with ample habitat heterogeneity, a Lepidoptera inventory can provide a valuable

baseline for biodiversity studies. Future comparisons can then be made over the long or short term to reflect

the response of these insects to changes in the local environment.

The adults of many butterflies and moths are quite colorful and conspicuous. As such, they have become

increasingly popular with wildlife observers and are excellent organisms for both field and lab based citizen

science. And while the butterflies of the Pacific Northwest have been reasonably well documented, there

remains much to be learned about the majority of moth species. Documenting the diversity of moths at

Sampson Creek will help to describe the complexity of the local ecosystem and how it varies across the

landscape within and between various plant communities.

The Sampson Creek Preserve is located within an area of high biodiversity and likely hosts species of moths, in

particular, which are little known for the region as a whole. As such, with thorough sampling a significant

number of rare or otherwise poorly documented species are likely to be discovered and in doing so would

contribute important county, state and regional distribution and range data.

This study proposes to inventory the butterflies and moths of the Sampson Creek Preserve by sampling

regularly throughout the spring through fall months over the next few years. Preliminary results from visits

during June, July and September, 2016 are presented in this report.

METHODS

Field sampling was conducted at Sampson Creek Preserve over 3 day/2 night periods during three separate

monthly visits. An effort was made to collect butterflies and moths throughout the range of accessible habitat

types and elevations. Each visit was timed to coincide with the new moon period to maximize the

effectiveness of light traps for sampling nocturnal moths, and sunny daytime weather for good diurnal

sampling. During each visit, both the relatively lush riparian habitats along lower Sampson Creek and the

more mixed conifer-hardwood habitats of higher elevations (accessed via Cove Road) were included. Oak

habitats with abundant Quercus garyanna and Q. kelloggii were well represented given their predominance

throughout much of the preserve.

Nighttime sampling entailed the deployment of 12 volt battery powered blacklight traps for single-night

periods at 10 unique locations (5 per night over 2 nights) on each visit. Each trap contained a fresh fumigant

strip that served to quickly kill moths as they entered the trap. Each trap sample was collected as soon as was

possible the following morning, placed in a plastic baggy with a trap site-date label, and kept cool in an ice

chest until transported from the field. Each sample was then frozen until it could be processed. Processing

entailed the sorting and identification of all macro-moths to species, with the transfer of data to a formal

database. Representative voucher specimens were retained and mounted with collection data before being

deposited into the Oregon State Arthropod Collection (OSAC) at Oregon State University in Corvallis.

Butterflies and day-flying moths were sampled on foot using an insect net (see photo below) during mid-day

hours. An effort was made to sample all species observed, although doing so was not always possible.

Virtually all butterflies were identified by sight while on the wing or were netted and identified in hand.

Occasional individuals could not be identified with certainty and were not included. As for nocturnal moths,

voucher specimens of diurnal species were retained, vouchered and placed in the OSAC collection.

Photo 1. Sampling diurnals.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

A total of 252 species of Lepidoptera were documented at the Sampson Creek Preserve in 2016 (see

Appendix). Of these, 49 species were butterflies and 203 species were moths. While significantly more

sampling will be required to record the entire butterfly-moth fauna present there, these results strongly

suggest that the Sampson Creek Preserve hosts a high diversity of these insects.

Common & Widespread Species. About one-half of the butterflies and a majority of the moths represent

common and widespread species that are generally found wherever habitats include their larval hostplants.

Many of these species are generalists, where caterpillars feed on a number of different plant species or feed

on plants that are also common and widespread. Others are wide-ranging species that are either true

migrants, such as the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), or enter Oregon from the south each spring as influx

species - such as the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)) - which then breed temporarily but are generally

incapable of tolerating the colder PNW winters and functionally die out each year to “re-invade” the next.

Regional Endemics. Sampson Creek Lepidoptera include species or subspecies known only from limited

portions of the southern Oregon Cascades (Western Sulphur (Colias occidentalis “SW Oregon segregate”) or

small areas within the adjacent Siskiyou Mountains (the noctuid moth Apamea albina). Others are

functionally “Californian” and reach the limits of their northward range in southern Oregon, such as the Gray

Marble (Anthocharis lanceolata) and Lindsey’s Skipper (Hesperia lindseyi).

Rare Species. The number of rare species documented at a site generally correlates to sampling intensity.

Uncommon species are less likely to be sampled due to their low abundance over the landscape. Some may

only occur in the vicinity of rare or localized larval hostplants or may have small populations with adults active

for a very short period of time each year. Some species sampled in 2016 that can be considered rare include

the moths Hemaris thysbe (a day-flying sphinx moth) and Apamea albina (also mentioned above).

Oregon State and Jackson County Records. While a more intensive search of national and regional databases

will be required for confirmation, a number of moths appear to represent the 1st, 2nd or 3rd record for the

species in Jackson County or are rarely documented species for Oregon or the Pacific Northwest. Candidates

currently include the sphinx moth Hemaris thysbe (2nd county record and 4th or 5th Oregon record), the tiger

moth Cycnia oregonensis (Jackson County record), and the geometrid moths Eumacaria madopata (Jackson

County record, range extension to south) and Drepanulatrix nevadaria (possibly the 2nd record ever for

Oregon). Another geometrid moth Eusarca falcata appears to be the first Oregon record for that genus. At

present, the latter species is uncertain and may prove to be a closely related undescribed species.

The Need for Additional Sampling. In addition to the more intensive sampling required to record the rarer

species which undoubtedly occur at Sampson Creek Preserve, virtually no sampling has taken place there

during the months of March, April, May, August or October. The spring months of April and May, in particular,

will reveal many species that were not active during the months sampled in 2016. The summer months (June-

August) are often the time of greatest moth activity and additional sampling then will also continue to add

many species to the list.

Sampson Creek Preserve Areas Sampled

Butterflies were sampled along lower Sampson Creek to a maximum distance of 1.7 miles east of the lower

access gate and along the upper access road on each visit (Figure 1). During early June, use of the gas-

powered ATV allowed for additional sampling at middle elevations, not accessed since then due to fire

restrictions in place during July and September. Figure 2 shows the locations of moth traps from all visits

combined. Traps were placed at various elevations and within a variety of plant communities (photos below).

Figure 1. Transects used to document butterflies in 2016.

Figure 2. Placement of blacklight traps used to sample nocturnal moths in 2016.

Photo 2. Oak habitat along lower Sampson Creek (September 2016).

Photo 3. The Aholibah Underwing Moth (Erebidae) is associated with oak habitats.

Photo 4. Riparian edge habitat along lower Sampson Creek (September 2016).

Photo 5. Riparian understory habitat along lower Sampson Creek (September 2016).

Photo 6. Conifer forest understory habitat along the upper access road (September 2016).

Photo 7. Mixed semi-open conifer forest habitat along the upper access road (September 2016).

APPENDIX. Checklist of Sampson Creek Lepidoptera documented in 2016.

LEPIDOPTERA – 252 species

BUTTERFLIES - 49 Species

Family Papilionidae (Swallowtails & Parnassians) – 4 species Anise Swallowtail Papilio zelicaon Lucas, 1852 Western Tiger Swallowtail Papilio rutulus Lucas, 1852 Pale Tiger Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon Lucas, 1852 (1805) Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata pusillus Austin & J. Emmel, 1998 Family Pieridae (Whites & Sulphurs) – 8 species Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Boisduval, 1832 Western Sulphur Colias occidentalis Scudder, 1862 (SW Oregon segregate) Gray Marble Anthocharis lanceolata lanceolata Lucas, 1852 Pine White Neophasia menapia menapia (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1859) Margined White Pieris marginalis Scudder, 1861 ssp. Cabbage White Pieris rapae rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) Becker’s White Pontia beckerii (W. H. Edwards, 1871) Western White Pontia occidentalis occidentalis (Reakirt, 1866) Family Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers & Hairstreaks) – 10 species Great Blue Hairstreak Atlides halesus corcorani Clench, 1942 Hedgerow Hairstreak Satyrium saepium saepium (Boisduval, 1852) Sylvan Hairstreak Satyrium sylvinus (Boisduval, 1852) ssp. Nelson’s Cedar Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus nelsoni (Boisduval, 1869) Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus Hübner, 1818 ssp. Pacific Azure Celastrina echo echo (W. H. Edwards, 1864) Greenish Blue Plebejus saepiolus rufescens (Boisduval, 1869) Boisduval’s Blue Plebejus icarioides ?icarioides (Boisduval, 1852) Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon (Westwood, [1851])

“Lupine” Blue Plebejus lupini (Boisduval, 1869) (Siskiyous/W OR Cascades) Family Riodinidae (Metalmarks) – 1 species Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo mormo (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1859)

Family Nymphalidae (Brushfoots) – 18 species Monarch Danaus plexippus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) Callippe Fritillary Speyeria callippe elaine dos Passos & Grey, 1945 Hydaspe Fritillary Speyeria hydaspe rhodope (W. H. Edwards, 1877) Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini lorquini Boisduval, 1852 California Sister Adelpha californica (Butler, 1865)

Family Nymphalidae (Brushfoots) (continued)

American Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury, 1773) Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta rubria (Fruhstorfer, 1909) California tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Boisduval, 1852) Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758) Northern Buckeye Junonia coenia grisea Austin & J. Emmel, 1998 Edith’s Checkerspot Euphydryas editha colonia (W. G. Wright, 1905) Snowberry Checkerspot Euphydryas colon colon (W. H. Edwards, 1881) Northern Checkerspot Chlosyne palla ?eremita (W. G. Wright, 1905) Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta mylitta (W. H. Edwards, 1861) Common Ringlet Coenonympha tullia eryngii Hy. Edwards, 1877

Great Arctic Oeneis nevadensis nevadensis (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867) Common Wood-Nymph Cercyonis pegala ariane (Boisduval, 1852) Family Hesperiidae (Skippers) – 8 species Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades indistinctus Austin & J. Emmel, 1998 Propertius Duskywing Erynnis propertius (Scudder & Burgess, 1870) Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis (Grote, 1872) (W Oregon segregate) Common Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes vialis (W. H. Edwards, 1862) Juba Skipper Hesperia juba (Scudder, 1874) Western Branded Skipper Hesperia colorado oregonia (W. H. Edwards, 1883) Lindsey’s Skipper Hesperia lindseyi septentrionalis J. Emmel, T. Emmel & Mattoon, 1998 Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides sylvanoides (Boisduval, 1852) (MOTHS continued next page)

MOTHS – 203 species. (Note – Since many moths do not have common names, only Latin names are presented here. Any recent taxonomic changes, authors and years of description will be included at the end of the multi-year inventory).

Family Cossidae – 1 species

Acossus populi Family Crambidae – 3 species

Mecyna mustelinalis Pyrausta nicalis Saucroboys fumoferalis Family Drepanidae – 1 species

Euthyatira semicircularis Family Erebidae – 21 species

Caenurgina erechtea Catocala aholibah Catocala ilia Ctenucha rubroscapus Cycnia oregonensis Dasychira grisefacta Drasteria adumbrata Drasteria edwardsii Drasteria sabulosa Grammia ornata Idia americalis Idia occidentalis Lophocampa argentata Lophocampa maculata Lygephila victoria Orgyia pseudotsugata Phobolosia anfracta Pseudohemihyalea edwardsii Spilosoma vagans Zale minerea Zale termina

Family Geometridae – 55 species

Anavitrinella pampinaria Aplocera plagiata Campaea perlata Caripeta aequaliaria Chlorosea banksaria Coryphista meadii Cyclophora dataria

Family Geometridae (continued)

Digrammia muscariata Digrammia neptaria Drepanulatrix bifilata

Drepanulatrix foeminaria Drepanulatrix hulstii Drepanulatrix monicaria

Drepanulatrix nevadaria……………………Potential 2nd State Record for Oregon Drepanulatrix unicalcararia Dysstroma mancipata Elpiste lorquinaria Enypia packardata Euchlaena johnsonaria Euchlaena tigrinaria Eudrepanulatrix rectifascia Eumacaria madopata Eupithecia misturata Eusarca ?falcata………………………………..First documentation of this genus in Oregon Eustroma semiatrata Gabriola dyari Hesperumia latipennis

Hesperumia sulphuraria Hydriomena perfracta Hydriomena renunciata Idaea dimidiata Iridopsis emasculatum Leptostales rubromarginaria Macaria adonis Melanolophia imitata Nematocampa resistaria Nemoria darwiniata Nepytia umbrosaria Perizoma costiguttata Pero mizon Pero occidentalis Phaeoura mexicanaria Protitame subalbaria Pterotae albescens Sabulodes edwardsata Scopula junctaria Sericosema juturnaria Sicya crocearia Sicya morsicaria Speranza quadrilinearia Stamnoctenis pearsalli Stenoporpia pulmonaria Tetracis cervinaria Xanthorhoe defensaria

Zosteropoda hirtipes

Family Lasiocampidae – 3 species

Malacosoma californica Malacosoma constrictum Tolype distincta Family Limacodidae – 1 species

Tortricidea testacea Family Noctuidae – 98 species

Abagrotis apposita Abagrotis erratica Abagrotis forbesi Abagrotis placida Abagrotis scopeops Abagrotis trigona Acronicta impleta Acronicta marmorata Acronicta perdita

Acronicta radcliffei Acronicta strigulata Adelphagrotis indeterminata Agrotis ipsilon Amphipyra brunneoatra Amphipyra pyramidoides Amphipyra tragopoginis Anarta oregonica Andropolia diversilineata Apamea albina Apamea alia Apamea amputatrix Apamea antennata Apamea centralis Apamea cinefacta Apamea cogitata Apamea cuculliformis Apamea siskiyou

Apamea sordens Aseptis adnixa Aseptis binotata Aseptis ethnica Aseptis fanatica Brachylomia thula Caradrina meralis Cosmia calami Dichagyris variabilis

Family Noctuidae (continued)

Egira rubrica Euxoa atomaris Euxoa bicollaris Euxoa brunneigera Euxoa infausta Euxoa obeliscoides Euxoa satis Euxoa septentrionalis Euxoa tocoyae Feltia jaculifera Homorthodes communis

Homorthodes furfurata Homorthodes hanhami Lacinipolia comis Lacinipolia cuneata Lacinipolia pensilis Lacinipolia quadrilineata

Lacinipolia stricta Lacinipolia strigicollis Lacinipolia vicina Lasionycta perplexa Leucania dia Leucania farcta Leucania oregona Mesogona olivata Mesogona subcuprea Noctua comes Noctua pronuba Oligia divesta Oligia rampartensis Orthodes noverca Panthea virginarius Parabagrotis cupidissima Parabagrotis exsertistigma Parabagrotis formalis Parabagrotis insularis Parabagrotis sulinaris Peridroma saucia Polia pinae Properigea albimacula Protolampra rufipectus Protorthodes alfkeni Protorthodes curtica Pseudobryomima muscosa Pseudorthodes irrorata Raphia frater Spaelotis bicava

Family Noctuidae (continued)

Sympistis goedeni Sympistis greyi Sympistis youngi Syngrapha celsa Viridiseptis marina Xestia cinerascens Xestia finatimis Xestia infimatis Xestia mustelina Xestia smithii Xestia xanthographa Zale minerea Zale termina Zosteropoda hirtipes Zotheca tranquila Family Notodontidae – 6 species

Clostera apicalis Furcula cinerea Furcula scolopendrina Nadata gibbosa Nadata oregonensis Schizura unicornis Family Oecophoridae – 1 species

Ethmia discostrigella Family Saturniidae – 2 species

Antheraea polyphemus Hemileuca eglanterina Family Sphingidae – 7 species

Hemaris thetis Hemaris thysbe Paonias excaecatus

Smerinthus ophthalmica Sphinx chersis Sphinx drupiferarum Sphinx perelegans Family Tortricidae – 4 species

Archips argyrospila Choristoneura rosaceana Eucosma siskiyouana Hedya ochroleucana

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project was made possible by the combined efforts of kind and capable people. I would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions during this first year of study. Maia Black – First and foremost, I appreciate her taking an interest in these insects. She and Bo were extremely helpful by providing a truck camper for shelter and an ATV (at least in June) for efficient movement up and down the hill, interest-in-action as witnessed by their willingness to join in on the butterfly netting, and for providing the delicious farewell lunch on our last day of field work in early September. Gary Pearson - My faithful friend and field companion for this and many recent field adventures. His sharp eyes and quick net helped to increase the butterfly list in particular. His good company and willingness to cook most meals were much appreciated. Linda Kappen – Enthusiastic and always willing to meet up and help out with any SW Oregon butterfly adventure. Linda introduced me to Maia and the Sampson Creek Preserve. Her company was much appreciated both in the field (she saw the first Mormon Metalmark!) and back at camp. Dr. Paul Hammond – Paul has mentored me in the identification of PNW moths over the past two-plus decades and continues to provide assistance both with difficult moth species (for me, not him!) and out of his sheer interest in discovery each time I bring baggies of frozen moths back to be processed. He has helped to vastly increase the speed of moth processing and the reliability of identifications on this and other moth projects, and I am perpetually grateful.

The author and “friends”.